Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bluesdog on March 14, 2011 at 3:43am

A pre amp would fix that right up, there are nice ones that are mounted in a endpin that work on 9v for about 40$. Maybe les.

 

Feedback on Piezo's is mostly a impendance mismiatch between the pickup and amplifier that's usualy solved by adding a pre-amp, a vollume knob would also work by rolling off the vol untill the amp stops feedbacking but chances are you wouldnt have enough vollume to preform on stage properly.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on March 14, 2011 at 5:55am

I would second the suggestion of trying a preamp, but if you dont want to install one in the guitar you might want to try an outboard preamp. Prices range all over the place, but there are specific preamps designed for piezo equipped acoustics that are a good investment for live performances where feedback becomes highly likely.

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Permalink Reply by Brian "Pork Pie" Anderson on March 14, 2011 at 6:03am

I appreciate the responses...This helps alot.

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Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on March 14, 2011 at 6:19am

I am a proponent of preamps, I use a Fishman GII which has bass, mid and treble controls but even at center detent I find the sound is better. A couple of suggestions. Try to stuff the soundholes with dense foam, or the purpose of experimenting, rags and see if that affects the feedback problem. Another but more expensive fix is a parametric EQ. If not that then there are less expensive graphic EQs in pedal form or panel. A feedback loop is a physical manifestation, it occurs at a certain set of frequencies and by cutting those frequencies one can at least get more volume.

Don

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Permalink Reply by Brian Hunt on March 14, 2011 at 11:11am

Another possibility would be this guitar pedal, specially made for use with cigar box guitars that have piezo pickups.

 

cigbooster

 

Brian Hunt.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on March 14, 2011 at 12:22pm

big fan of cigbooster.... also there are some building issues.... If the piezo in encased in something that "cushions" it (I like silicone caulk) and not just hard glue between two pieces of hardwood, 99% of the feedback goes away.   properly made, you can stick a piezo pup in front of a stack and it won't blow....

 

the best,

 

wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on March 14, 2011 at 12:42pm

I agree 100% Sam, a cushioned piezo is the best solution. I have never liked hard mounting, harsh sounding and very prone to feedback.

Don

Wichita Sam said:

big fan of cigbooster.... also there are some building issues.... If the piezo in encased in something that "cushions" it (I like silicone caulk) and not just hard glue between two pieces of hardwood, 99% of the feedback goes away.   properly made, you can stick a piezo pup in front of a stack and it won't blow....

 

the best,

 

wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on March 14, 2011 at 6:26pm

i think because of the cone you will always struggle with feedback at stage volumes with this kind of design.  A preamp will certainly help, but you really need a good sound guy and judicious eq..   consider that the cone is DESIGNED to resonate at these same frequencies and the piezo is mounted on that same cone. also stuffing the box with a towel, newspaper etc etc is unlikely to help all that much in this case, unless these mufflers actually muffle the cone, which is hardly desirable..

 

You can probably help them a little with a preamp but i think its really about their setup / monitor mix etc  (A preamp WILL make it sound a lot better, respond to eq better, warmer without the 'wooliness' but I doubt it'll beat your problems here)..     Just part of the axe they gotta learn to live with.   Amplifying resos has never been easy, many many pros wont go past a mic..

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Permalink Reply by HOLLOWBELLY on March 14, 2011 at 8:24pm

dont mean this in a negative way at all, but I solved the problem of piezos by not using them anymore.Theres a hundred things to worry about onstage-feedback and unwanted overtones are an unnecessary hassle I dont need in a stressful situation.Its hard enough getting a great sound in so many clubs/halls/pubs etc..why make it harder for yourself?

     We are very lucky here on the nation as there are so many great pickups being made-my firm advice would be to buy/install one.Just my 2 pennies worth.

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Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on March 14, 2011 at 11:08pm

Try blocking off the soundholes. Feedback is also a pick-up picking-up it's own sound.

Play away from the monitors. Turn monitors down, pa up.

Several causes for feedback, and the cures are exponential.

 

 

AFKAM

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Permalink Reply by Brian "Pork Pie" Anderson on March 15, 2011 at 3:25am

I appreciate all the advise and I was aware of the pitfalls when using a piezo on this build, it was a personal build and I never intended in giving it away to someone who plays onstage. That being said if I installed a mag pup on it wouldn't I kind of lose the sound generated from the cone?

 

This is the band I gave the guitar to, the oldest member is 16 and they just scored two gigs this weekend at SXSW in Austin.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzx9atkEuuc

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Permalink Reply by Brian "Pork Pie" Anderson on March 15, 2011 at 3:42am

I appreciate the advice I know its the only real solution..thanks

HOLLOWBELLY said:

dont mean this in a negative way at all, but I solved the problem of piezos by not using them anymore.Theres a hundred things to worry about onstage-feedback and unwanted overtones are an unnecessary hassle I dont need in a stressful situation.Its hard enough getting a great sound in so many clubs/halls/pubs etc..why make it harder for yourself?

     We are very lucky here on the nation as there are so many great pickups being made-my firm advice would be to buy/install one.Just my 2 pennies worth.

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